The US president made the remark in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s four-day visit to Beijing
US President Donald Trump has said he is not worried about China-Russia ties, insisting that America has the world’s “strongest” military.
He made the comment on Tuesday in response to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, where Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who called him his “old friend.”
Moscow and Beijing described each other as strategic partners and pledged to deepen cooperation “without limits.”
In an interview with The Scott Jennings Radio Show, Trump was asked if he was concerned “about an axis forming against the United States with China and Russia.” The president responded “I am not concerned at all,” adding “We have the strongest military in the world, by far. They would never use their military on us. Believe me.”
The remarks came just ahead of a military parade in Beijing marking the World War II victory over Japan. Putin attended the celebrations alongside North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and other leaders.
Speaking about the conflict in Ukraine, Trump said he was “very disappointed” in Putin and added without elaborating that his administration was preparing actions “to help people live.”
Trump met Putin in Alaska last month in an effort to mediate a ceasefire in Ukraine. No breakthroughs were reached, but both sides called the talks positive. Trump has since urged direct talks between Putin and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week that Putin “does not rule out the possibility of holding such a meeting,” but stressed it should be carefully prepared.
On Wednesday, Trump posted on Truth Social during the parade that Xi, Putin, and Kim were “conspiring” against Washington. He congratulated Xi, honored Americans who died in China’s “quest for Victory and Glory,” and wrote: “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against the United States.”
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said he hoped Trump had made the comments in jest. He stressed that “nobody is plotting any conspiracies” and added that everyone understood the role played by the United States, the Trump administration and the president personally in international affairs.
